South India (Cholas and Others) The Chola Empire: 850-1279AD
South India (Cholas and Others) The Chola Empire: 850-1279AD
Capital : Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram
⇒ The founder of the Chola dynasty was Vijayalaya, who was at first a feudatory of the Pallavas. He captured Tanjore in 850 AD.
⇒ The greatest Chola rulers were Rajaraja (985-1014AD) and his son Rajendra I (1014-1044AD).
⇒ Rajaraja built Vrihadeshwar/Rajarajeshwar temple (attributed to Shiva) at Tanjore.
⇒ Rajendra I conquered Orissa, Bengal, Burma and Andaman and Nicobar islands. The Chola dynasty was at its zenith during his reign.
⇒ Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola and built a city called Gangaikondacholapuram.
⇒ The last ruler of Chola dynasty was Rajendra III.
⇒ The king was the head of central authority helped by a council of ministers, but the administration was democratic.
⇒ The Chola empire was divided into Mandalams (Province) and these in turn were divided into Valanadu (Commissionary), Nadu (District) and Kurram (a group of villages).
⇒ The arrangement of local self-government is regarded as the basic feature of the administration of Cholas.
⇒ Land revenue and trade tax were the main sources of income.
⇒ The style of architecture which came into vogue during this period is called Dravida e.g. Kailashnath temple of Kanchipuram.
⇒ Another aspect was image-making which reached its climax in the dancing figure of Shiva called Nataraja.
⇒ Kambana who wrote Ramavataram was one of the greatest figures of Tamil poetry. His Ramayana is also known as Kamba Ramayana.
⇒ Kambana, Kuttana and Pugalendi are considered as ‘three gems of Tamil poetry’.
⇒ In the temples, the Vimana or the tall pyramidal tower dominates the whole structure of the shrine and imparts an extraordinary dignity to it.
⇒ Gopuram and Garbhagriha are the other two important structures.
⇒ The best specimens are the temples of Vijayalaya, Choleshwara, the Nageshwara temple, the Koranganath temple and the Muvarakovitha temple.
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